Dawson takes everything that worked so well in the first book and makes it stand out even brighter. At times provocative and sharp, at others funny and filled with queer joy, this book is sure to keep lovers of the first book very happy. Told from a variety of different characters, the threads of the story are woven together even more intricately and alliances (as well as friendships) shift as we dive deeper into this magical world…As always, Dawson’s talent of tackling contemporary topics in a fantastical setting truly makes this story stick with you…This entrancing mix of feminism, queerness, magic and power-hungry villains makes for an intoxicating reading experience. The Shadow Cabinet takes the irresistible themes of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven and amplifies their reach well beyond the pages of the book.” —The Nerd Daily
"The characters that were so carefully and diligently created in the first book are given their own stories in the second book, and it is a blast to read...The complexities of modern life are here; thrown into the mix are magic, witches, and rules created around them...There are no limits in this fantasy world; even the established rules are pushed. Readers who enjoy feminist, queer fantasy like The Priory of the Orange Tree (2019), by Samantha Shannon, will enjoy this series." —Booklist, starred review
"The brilliant and fast-paced second contemporary political fantasy in Dawson’s HMRC trilogy (after Her Majesty’s Royal Coven) takes the series to new heights...Dawson handles the tricky middle book with aplomb, raising the stakes and deepening the rich worldbuilding without losing sight of the pathos that makes her characters shine. Magic seamlessly weaves with pop culture references, fun soap-operatic twists, and an incisive look at the psychology of violent misogyny. This is the work of a master storyteller."—Publisher's Weekly, starred review
"The fast pace keeps the many stories moving as the points of view shift, and once again Dawson places a bombshell at the end to surprise readers. The second book of the series, after Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, is filled with witty dialogue, pop culture references, and features the bonds of childhood, sisterhood, and fighting for what one believes in." —Library Journal
Powerful women, families of all kinds, fantastical adventures and so much more unite these two spellbinding tales. Juno Dawson’s The Shadow Cabinet is the second installment in her series of witches, intrigue and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. Dawson joins us to talk about the importance of complex female characters, the response to This Book […]
Narrowing down this list was the hardest thing we’ve ever had to do, but we’ve hand-selected some of our favorite LGBTQIA+ books for Pride month. Spanning fiction, speculative fiction, horror, and even nonfiction, this list has a little something for everyone, and we hope you find the perfect read to help you celebrate this June!
Summer’s here, the days are longer, and we’re delivering lots of Poured Over Double Shot episodes to help you plan your summer reading, starting with Jonathan Eig and Héctor Tobar on June 1st. Eig delivers a nuanced and personal portrait of Martin Luther King, Jr. in his epic new bio, King: A Life, and Pulitzer […]
Summer officially begins this month, and we know that means you’ll need to build a TBR list as you get ready for vacations, sun-soaked days, and the need to escape from family — or the heat. From beloved authors to debuts making a splash, dive into this pool of stunning new books coming in June. […]